Byton M-Byte: the Chinese electric SUV with the biggest screen in the world

The Byton M-Byte comes from China and has been unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, ready to make a big splash in the electric SUV segment.

A new Chinese brand has arrived at the Frankfurt Motor Show to shake up the market with a new electric SUV, the Byton M-Byte. This new model is fully ready for production and has its sights set on the European market, so it aims to be a low-cost rival to the Audi e-tron or the Mercedes-Benz EQC. The Chinese offensive in this segment is significant, since the Aiways E5 also aims to make a strong impact in the European market.

The Byton M-Byte has the biggest screen in the world

Earlier this year, we already saw the Asian brand’s ambitions, and the design of the production version differs very little from that of the Byton M-Byte concept car. What Byton has decided to keep is what caught our attention most in that prototype: a striking 48-inch curved screen across the dashboard, the largest ever installed in a car. The company describes it as a “Shared Experience Display”.

This huge screen allows passengers to access connectivity services and vehicle controls. However, the driving controls are not handled from that same screen; they are operated through a 7-inch tablet placed in the centre of the steering wheel or another one located between the two front seats.

With so many screens, we expect the new Byton M-Byte to feature voice control assistance or some other aid, since so much animated surface could be a significant distraction at the wheel. However, the Chinese manufacturer has managed to eliminate all the buttons, keeping only the essentials: steering wheel and pedals.

The Byton M-Byte boasts an attractive design and a very reasonable electric range

The Byton M-Byte measures 4.66 metres in length, although the brand has worked hard to make the interior genuinely spacious. This is an essential requirement in the Chinese market, and the car already has a good number of orders in its home country.

The exterior design of the Byton M-Byte is attractive, with clean shapes and a sloping roofline that gives it a sporty air while also improving its aerodynamic efficiency and, therefore, its efficiency, which is essential in an electric car.

Two versions with a range of up to 430 km

The Byton M-Byte will come in two versions: the first has a 200 kW electric motor, or 272 CV. Thanks to it, it produces 400 Nm of torque and a range of 360 kilometres. In this version, power is sent directly to the rear axle.

The second variant will be all-wheel drive and will fit two motors that together deliver 300 kW, or 408 CV. With these, the torque rises to 710 Nm and the range climbs to 430 kilometres.

The company claims that, with a 150 kWh charger, the Byton M-Byte can charge to 80% of its capacity in just 35 minutes. In addition, the concept car we saw earlier this year was said to offer Level 3 autonomy, although the brand expects the Byton M-Byte to reach Level 4 autonomous driving by the end of 2020.

The price of the Byton M-Byte will be around 45,000 euros, so considering the equipment it offers and its range, it is genuinely tempting. We will therefore have to see whether it can really compete with the most premium electric SUVs on the market.